In a press conference held in Cairo by the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), it was announced that the ERC has received 27 tons of relief supplies provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU) to aid Sudanese who have fled the war in Sudan to Egypt.
Attending the press conference was Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Kabbaj, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Christian Berger, Resident Representative of UNDP Alessandro Fracassetti, and Executive Manager of ERC Ramy al-Nazer.
Ms Kabbaj said that the relief aid is meant to support Egypt’s intensive efforts to receive refugees entering Egypt on the Egyptian Sudanese border. It includes immediate medical supplies and meals, also personal protective equipment. “Providing the grant to support the efforts of the Egyptian Red Crescent towards the Sudanese crisis reflects the appreciation and trust that the international community has given to the Egyptian Red Crescent,” she said, “given that the ERC has demonstrated its capability through its urgent and impactful interventions inside and outside of Egypt.”
Ms Kabbaj said that the ministry has a budget of EGP150 million for local and international relief efforts. It operates through a nationwide network of 26 relief centres that collaborate with local NGOs and volunteer workers.She said that, according to UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) figures, some 63 per cent of those fleeing the war in Sudan are women and children aged under 18. She said Egypt already hosts some 8 million refugees from over the world.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Christian Berger explained that the EU and its member states are committed to supporting Egypt and Sudan in these difficult times. “We are working with our partners to assist Egypt in its efforts to ensure the basic social and healthcare needs of Sudanese refugees are met.”
The EU has also provided 200,000 euros to the ERC to aid those coming from Sudan to Egypt, Mr Berger added.
According to United Nations figures, some 98,000 refugees have fled to Egypt since the fighting began in Sudan.
“Our first goal will be to strengthen the capacities of the government and the relevant local authorities to provide vital basic services to those affected,” Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP resident representative in Egypt said, pledging to work closely with the Egyptian government, humanitarian aid workers, NGOs, and other UN agencies to create a development-oriented approach regarding both immediate and long-term response efforts.
For his part, Executive Manager of ERC Ramy al-Nazer said that ERC volunteers have been present round the clock at the Egyptian Sudanese border since the onset of the fighting, to offer relief and medical services. He said that partnering with the Social Solidarity Ministry and the EU during such critical times makes for an effective strategy to fully serve the needs of refugees.
Ms Kabbaj concluded by thanking Aswan Governor Ashraf Attiya for the huge efforts the southern governorate is doing to alleviate the refugee influx crisis.
Watani International
22 May 2023
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